Which Sand Blasting Medium Should You Choose For Auto Body Prep Work?
Sandblasting, also known as abrasive blasting, refers to the process of cleaning, smoothing or polishing a surface via projectile media that is shot through a specialised machine at high speeds. Not only is sandblasting a great way of eliminating paint but it can also be employed for rust removal too. Nonetheless, since the different mediums have different functionalities, it is advisable to know what will work best with the precise surface work you want to carry out on a vehicle.
If you have never engaged in sandblasting before, here are a few things to know about three different sandblasting media for your auto body prep work.
Walnut shells
If you are planning to remove pain ton an old car, you should take into consideration that the auto body may have weakened with time. Thus, you need to lean toward softer abrasive media or you can end up damaging the body of the car. Walnut shells are the perfect sandblasting material since it will gently scrape away the fading paint. Moreover, walnut shells are considered one of the most eco-conscious abrasive blasting media, since they are biodegradable and will not have a negative impact on the environment.
Glass beads
When you are deliberating on abrasive blasting a car surface for the sole purpose of smoothing out the surface to create a bright finish, then you should deliberate on choosing glass beads as your abrasive blasting medium. These glass beads are usually manufactured from soda lime and are renowned for not exerting excessive stress on the vehicle's body. So if the car has developed rough patches on some parts of the body, then glass beads are a perfect solution. Glass beads also have the added benefit of being recyclable, which means you can re-use them over and over again for other sandblasting applications!
Aluminium oxide
In some situations, you may want to engage in paint removal but find that the coating is still in good condition, making it difficult to scrape it off using glass beads. In these scenarios, you should consider aluminium oxide for your sandblasting needs. The aluminium oxide is substantially sharper than glass beads, so it is easier to cut through the paint in a shorter time. Furthermore, the aluminium oxide is also harder than glass beads so this sandblasting medium is also employed in the cleaning the surface of an auto body if it has acquired stubborn discolourations or patches of rust.